Knot tying mechanism



Dec. 1, 1953 E. E. WEST KNOT TYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-SheerI l Filed Sept. 24, 1948 Dec. 1, i953 E, E, WEST 2,661,230

KNOT TYING MECHANISM.

Filed Sept. 24, 1948 6 SheelZS-Sheerl 2 l f8 1' Y! l A @f 1 i M um 2M 73W @www Dec., 1, 1953 E. E. WEST 2,661,230

KNQT TYING MECHANISM Filed sept. 24. 194e e sheets-sheet s 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. l, 1953 E. E. wEsT KNOT TYING MECHANISM Filed sept. 24, 1948 Ed'wardEM/st Dec. 1, 1953 E. E. WEST KNOT TYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 du/'ard EWeS i Dec. l, 1953 E. E. WEST xNoT TYING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOT TYING MECHANISM Edward E. West, Richmond, Va.

Application September Z4, 1948, Serial No. 51,042

13 Claims. l

The present invention relates to improvements in knot tying mechanisms, and the method of tying a single loop bow knot. It relates more particularly to a mechanism for and the method of tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag of the open mesh, consumer` type that has been filled with citrus fruit'or the like.

The various objectsv and advantages of the invention will be apparent and best understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a knot tying mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the knot tying mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the knot tying mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the knot tying mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary viewA in section taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section view on an' enlarged scale taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing certain details of a knotter barrel and doffer;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale illustrating the doifer operating cams as shown in Fig. 10, but in advanced position;

Fig. l2 is a section view taken along the line |2I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of the end of the knetter barrel and hook;

Fig. 13a is a perspective view of a spring holding and tensioning arm;

Fig. 14 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of the end of the knotterhook;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view on an' enlarged scale of the doffer;

Figs. 16 through 24 are perspective views illustrating the knot tying mechanisms at various stages of the knot tying operation; and

Fig. is a perspective view of the knot tied by the knotting mechanism, but in 'loosened condition.

The illustrated embodiment of a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a bag' is adapted to be used in conjunction with a bag lling. machine of the type wherein a consumer type bag 2v having a drawstring closure is filled and after filling the mouth of the bag is closed by the drawstring and the drawstring is tied by a knot tying mechanism such as described herein to keep the mouth of the bag closed. A bag nlling machine of this type is fully illustrated and described in my copending' application Serial No. 51,041 led September 24, 1948, and wherein reference is made to this application. It will, of course, be understood that a knot tying mechanism embodying the present invention will have other uses in addition to its use with a bag lilling machine.

As shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, there is a horizontal plate l on which the knot tying mechanism may be supported. The plate l has a cutout portion as indicated at la that is adapted to nt around a support, such as the central support of a bag lling machine, to which thev plate l may be clamped so as to hold the knot tying mechanism supported thereon in a fixed position and at an appropriate location when used in conjunction with a bag filling machine.

As shown best in Fig. 1, a vertical drive shaft 2 that may be driven in a suitable manner; as for example, by the driving mechanism of a bag filling machine, extends atv right angles to the plate I. The drive shaft 2r carries' a gear 3 positioned beneath the plate l and a gear 4 spaced from the gear 3. As shown in Fig. 8, a segment of the circumference of the gear ilV is provided with teeth that engage with' and intermittently drives a spur gear 5` during a portion of each revolution of the drive shaft 2. The spur gear 5 has a cutout portion that registers with the gear 1 il and permits the gear 3` to rotate while holding the spur gear 5A against rotation when it is not engaged by the segment of teeth on the gear 3.

The spur gear 5 is secured to a stub shaftl 6 that extends through and' is supported by the plate The end of the' stub shaft 6' extending above the plate I carries a bevel gear 1 that engages with and drives a second bevel gear 8. The second' bevel gear 8' is secured to atubular'shaft 9 that extends horizontally above the plate l and is supported thereon in brackets .10. The end .of

the tubular shaft 91 forms a knotter barrel 9a that extends slightly beyond the end of the plate l and an inwardly curved, drawstring engaging nger ll is carried .at the end' of the knetter barrel 9a. The knot'ter" barrel 9a and the iinger Il carried thereon are, thus, intermittently rotated at an appropriate' time for `the knot tying operation during each revolution of the `,drive shaft 2.

As shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, the gear 4 car- 3 ried on the drive shaft 2 is fully toothed and engages with and drives an idler gear I2 that is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 5. 'I'he idler gear I2 engages with and drives a gear I3 that is secured to a second stub shaft I4. The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted on a support I5 that is carried beneath the plate I. The shaft I4 carries a cam I6 that engages with a cam roller I1 carried on the end of a lever I8. A tension spring I9 secured to the lever I8 and to an arm I9a xed to the support l5 holds the cam roller I1 in engagement with the cam I6. The

lever IB is secured to a rock shaft that extends through and is supported by an extension 2I of the plate I. The end of the rock shaft 29 extends above the plate I and carriesa lever 22 that is connected by a link 23 to the end of a reciprocable rod 24 located inside of the tubular shaft 9. As shown best in Figs. 13 and 14, the rod 24A carries a drawstring engaging hook 25 at the end thereof and the rod 24 is positioned so that its hooked end will project into and out of the open en'd of the knotter barrel 9a as the rod 24 is reciprocated. The end of the lever 22 that is connected to the shaft 29 is slotted so that the length of the lever 22 and consequently its throw may be adjusted to regulate the distance the hooked end 25 of the rod 24 is drawn into the tubular shaft 9 as desired. During the operation of the knot tying mechanism, the rod 24 carrying the hook 25 is thus reciprocated in appropriately timed relation to the knot tying operation twice for each revolution of the drive shaft 2.

As shown best in Figs. 10, 11 and l2, the tubular shaft 9 carries a cam 26 that engages with a cam 21 secured to a reciprocable rod 28 supported above the tubular shaft 9 in the brackets I0. The cam 21 is resiliently held in engagement with the cam 26 by a spring 29 that surround the rod 28 and is located between one of the brackets I0 and a stop 30 secured to the rod 28. The end of the rod 28 is positioned above the knotter barrel 9a and carries a doier 3| secured thereto by an arm 32.

As shown in Fig. 15, the doffer 3I is curved to fit the tubular shaft 9 and is moved along the top of the knotter barrel 9a as the rod 28 is moved. The doffer 3| is normally retracted and held in a position away from the end of the knotter barrel 9a. During the rotation of the tubular shaft 9, the doier 3I is moved to the end of the knotter barrel 9a under the influence of the cams 26 and 21 at an appropriate time in the operation of the knot tying mechanism after a loop of the drawstring has been wrapped around the knotter barrel 9a to push the drawstring off of the knotter barrel.

The gear 4 on the drive shaft 2 also carries an upright pin 33 at its outer periphery. As shown best in Fig. 4, the pin 33 as it is rotated strikes a finger 34 carried on a pivoted drawstring guide operating lever 35 and moves the lever 35 to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the lever 35 is pivoted to the plate I on a bolt 36 and the finger 34 is adjustable lengthwise of the lever 35 so that the period it remains in engagement with the pin 33 and the length of throw of the lever 35 may be regulated as desired. The end of lever 35 is connected by a link 31 and an arm 38 to a movable drawstring guide 39.

As shownvin Figs 4 and 7, the drawstring guide 39 is pivoted on a support 4|! that is adjustably secured to the plate I. The adjustment of the support 40 permits the guide 39 to be adjusted for the throw of the lever 35 so that the guide will swing into proper position relative to a fixed drawstring guide 4I as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4. The end of the movable guide 39 is notched as indicated at 42 to engage with the drawstring of a bag and to carry the drawstring into a notch indicated at 43 in the fixed guide 4I. When the movable guide 39 is moved to the position indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, the drawstring is held between the guides 39 and 4I and is positioned so that an upwardly extending portion of the drawstring will pass over the knotter barrel 9a for engagement with the finger II carried thereon as the shaft 9 is rotated.

The movable guide 39 may be supported at its free end by a leaf spring 44 that is secured to the plate I. When the pin 33 releases the finger 34, the lever 35 is returned to the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 4 by a return spring 45. The return spring 45 is secured to the lever 35 and to an arm 46 that is secured to the plate I. The arm 46 is adjustable on the plate I and may be positioned to control the tension of the return spring 45 as desired.

When the knotter is used in conjunction with a bag-filling machine such as described in my copending application Serial No. 51,041, previously referred to. The drawstring of a filled bag may be automatically transferred to a holding device which holds the drawstring in proper position for the tying of a knot therein.

As shown best in Fig. 1, a drawstring engaging mechanism indicated generally at 41 is supported at the end of a horizontal rook shaft 48 located above and slightly to the rear of the knotter barrel 9a. The rock shaft'48 is supported in brackets 49 carried by a plate 50 extending vertically from the plate I. As shown best in Fig. 9, the drawstring engaging mechanism 41 consists of a drawstring engaging arm 5I that is pivoted at 52 on a collar 53 secured'to the rock shaft 48. A spring 54 is connected between a member 55 extending from the rear of the arm 5I and a member 56 extending from the collar 53. The tension of the spring 54 urges the arm 5I upwardly until the end of a cutout portion of the arm 5I engages with a stop pin 51 carried by the collar 53.

To operate this drawstring holding mechanism, .the drive shaft 2 carries an outwardly projectmg, rotating arm 58 located beneath the gears 3 and 4. Once during each revolution of the drive shaft 2, the arm 58 strikes a lug 59 carried on an arm 69 that is secured to one end of a vertical rock shaft 6I. As shown best in Fig. 2, the vertical rock shaft 6I extends through the plate I and is supported by the plate I and an arm 62 that is secured to a bracket 63 carried on the vertical plate 56.

As a bag is moved by the bag filling machine or other suitable mechanism into position for the knotting of the drawstring with the bag being supported bythe looped end of its drawstring, the arm 5I enters the loop of the drawstring, as shown in Fig. 16, and as thedrawstring continues to advance it engageswith bars 64 ex- 'ending from either side of the arm 5I and is pulled from its previous support onto the spring loaded arm 5I. The spring 54 permits the arm 5I to be deflected by the weight of the bag that 1s suspended therefrom and this absorbs any Isl'iockrthat might otherwise tend to snap the drawstring.

i A rod 65 is secured to the horizontal rock shaft 48 and engages with a stop 66 carried'by .accesso the -vertical :rock fshaft .16| to ihold the .arm1v51l .i in 'a raised position 'for .an .appropriate time during 'the :tying of a fknot. jWhen ithe iproper :time pin the yknot ftying :operation :is reached, the stop 166 iis lmoved Aout aof engagement with the rod '.65 and the pull fon @the drawstring .'.enga'ging with the =arm 15| causes `the .arm .5| f and the rock 'shaft '$8 -to turn so `that 'the looped `end :of `.the :drawstring will be disengaged'from thearmzI. .Upon yrelease of :the drawstring, :the `rock shaft 48 is returned to its initial position ybyla .torsion spring '6H that .rotatesrthe rock shaft 48 `untilfa stop .'68 carried thereon strikes `one of 'the brackets 149. The vertical'rock shaft '6| is returned to its ini- .tial position by a ltorsion spring 68 that rotates the rockshaftl untila-stop .10 carriedthereon 'strikes' thebracket 63.

lFigs. 16 ithrough 24 illustrate thefvarious steps -in the :method .for tying Jof va fknot in a Ydrawstring asicarried out `by the apparatus that has =just lbeen described and Fig- 25 illustrates the knot-as Vtied by the Vrnethod vthus illustrated.

In Fig. 16, the drawstring of the filled bag is shown Aas it is being vbrought into position for the 'initial-knot tying operation. vThe guide 39 has beenmoved from its vopen position, indicated -by thedot and dash lines, to its closed position wmay be engaged `bythe finger on the knotter barrel'aas theknotter barrel is rotated. At the same time, 'the looped rend of the drawstring lis transferred to the springheld drawstring engaging'arm T5! which is located above and Slightly behindltheknotter'barrel`9u sothat the drawstring will extend -at a slight Vangle across the kn'otte'rlbarrel 9a while it is supported in a xed 'position onthe arm 5|.

Fig. 1*'7 illustrates the engagement of the nger f|| on the -knotter barrel "9a with the draw- `stringas the knotterbarrel starts to rotate after -theloopedend of the drawstringhas been transfferred to'the arm '5L Figs. l181and 1-9 illustrate -the partial wrapping or loopingfof the drawystringabout the knotter barrel 9a when'the knotterbarrel has rotated approximately one half a kturn and three quarters of a turn, respectively. As shown in Fig. '-9, the downwardly extending yportion-of vthe drawstring -falls into a notch 'H cut into the end ofthe knotter barrel 9a next `to the'knotter nger A| I as the'knotter barrel rotates Aand as the knotter barrel `9a continues to rotate approaching Aa complete turn, as shown in'Fig. 20 the upwardly extending portion of the drawstring strikes the back of the knotter finger and is guided across the downwardly extendingportion of the drawstring.

Asshown in Fig. 20 the hooked end'25 of the 'reciprocable rod 24 starts to emerge from the knotter barrel 9a. As the knotter barrel 9a completes a full turn, the upwardly extending por- `tion of the drawstring'slips over the back of the 'knotter nger lto va position in front of the open 'i end ofthe knetter barrel 9a and across the open-'loop of the drawstring wrapped thereon, as shown in Fig. 2l. VAt this position the hook 25 engages with the portion of the drawstring extending across the open end of theknotter bar- Jvrel and the-doier 3| also starts to move toward lthe end of the `knetter barrel 9a. When the v`knotter barrel 9a reachesa vposition Where the Aknotter nger i extends downwardlyyas shown in"Fig.22, 'the dofer 3| pushes the loop 'of the drawstring rthat has been formed aboutfthe1knot rby disengaging the stop 65 from the arm 65 thus, permitting the arm 5| to be pulled vdownwardly to release the looped end of the `drawstring as shown also in Fig. 22.

As the looped end of the drawstring is released by the arm 5|, the hook 25 draws 'the doubled portion of the drawstring that forms the loop of a bow into the tubular shaft .9 as shown in Fig. 23 and the weight of the bag pulls the drawstring from the knotter nger and draws the knot tight. The doffer 3| has also been returned to its initial position at this time. When the knot has been drawn tight, the hook 25 is then moved out of the end of the tubular shaft Q, as shown in Fig. 24, to release the doubled loop or bow of the drawstring therefrom. During the operations just describedthe bag may be raised and lowered by a hopper such as is shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 51,041 referred to previously, to relieve the tension in the drawstring as the knot is being tied.

The knot that has been tied is shown in Fig. 25 and is a bow knot having a single loop. With the present mechanism the loop of this bow knot may be drawn as long as desired by regulating the movement of the hook 25. When a bow knot having a long loop and a short free end is tied in this manner, persons handling the .bag will not unintentionallypull out the knot by pulling on the free end of the drawstring. However, the knot may be readily vuntied, when desired, by pulling the free end of the drawstring toreplace articles in the bag that may have become damaged or spoiled.

It will be understood the .embodiment of the invention as shownand described herein is for illustrative purposes only and it will be apparent that various changes and vmodifications .may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope .of the invention as dened by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. in a machine for tying a knot in a drawstring of a bag, the combination of a rotatable knotter barrel, a vdrawstring engaging finger, a pivoted arm positionedabove the rotatable knotter barrel, said arm entering .the looped end of a drawstring and :supporting a viilled bag .f'by `'said drawstring with .a zportion :of 'the drawstring zintermediate the 'ends `thereof 'extending Yacross the knetter barreLfa support :on vizhichsaid arm is pivoted, means @for limiting the=pivoted movement of the'arm aboutsaid'support, anda-spring connected between the arm andthe support, .said spring urging thearmit'oward the upper limitfo'f its pivotal movement.

2. In a mechanismfortying aknotina drawstring of a containerrsuch as a bag, the combination as deined finclaim l 'which includes rock shaft on which said .drawstring engaging arm and the support'therefor are fcarried, said shaft being rotatable ithroughfsaidarznfand the drawstring carried Athereon :to move 4said 'arm from a drawstring'supporting position to a'position for releasingtheidrawstring from said arm, releasable means vengaging with the `rrock shaft for holding the rook Ishaft and vdrawstring e'ngaging arm in the first-'mentioned position 'and a spring connected tosaidrock shaft'for,re-

Aturning said shaft and said"'ar`m 'to the rststring for a container such as a bag, the combination including a rotatable knotter barrel, a pair of opposing guides located beneath the rotatable knotter barrel, said guides including a fixed drawstring positioning guide and a mov- Yable drawstring positioning guide supported in lopposed relation to said fixed guide, said movable guide being movable into open and closed relation to said fixed guide for engaging with and positioning a drawstring between said guides, a spring secured to said movable guide and normally holding said movable guide in its open position, and means for intermittently closing said movable guide upon engagement of the drawstring therewith.

4. In a mechanism for tying a bow knot having a single loop of predetermined length in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination including a rotatable knotter barrel, said knotter barrel being tubular and having an opening extending therethrough, a drawstring engaging finger carried by said knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably mounted in said knotter barrel and a linkage connecting said drawstring engaging hook to a drive means for moving said hook from a position where said hook projects from the open end of said knotter barrel to a position within said knotter barrel, the connection of said linkage to said drawstring engaging hook being adjustable for regulating the distance the hook is moved thereby within the knotter barrel.

5. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doier located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doier being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

6. In a mechanism for tying a, knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, a drawstring supporting arm positioned above the end of the knotter bar-rel, said arm engaging with and supporting the free end of the drawstring with the drawstring in posivtion for engagement with the drawstring engag- A inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, a d-rawstring supporting arm positioned above the end of the knotter barrel, said arm being positioned to hold the free end of the drawstring with the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging finger, a pair of opposed drawstring guides located beneath the knotter barrel, one of said guides being movable and the other of said guides being xed, said movable guide engaging with and supporting with a portion of the drawstring extending below the knotter barrel and positioning the drawstring for engagement with the drawstring engaging nger, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doffer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doffer being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

8. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel. a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotterbarrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position inside of the ba-rrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel, a linkage connecting the hook to a drive means for reciprocating the same, said linkage having an adjustable throw for regulating the distance the hook is drawn into the barrel, and a. reciprocable doffer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doier being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

9. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, resilient means engaging with the free end of the drawstring and supporting the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging finger, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doifer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doffer being reciprocable be- .said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, means engaging with the end of the drawstring and resiliently supporting the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging inger, release means operable by rotation of the knotter barrel for releasing said supporting means from engagement with the drawstring upon completion of one revolution of the knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doifer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doffer being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof and being positioned to engage with the loop of the drawstring on the barrel upon movement toward the end of the barrel.

11. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said nger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, means engaging with one end of the drawstring and resiliently supporting the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging finger, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doffer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doffer being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof and guide means engaging with a portion of the drawstring beneath the barrel, said guide means engaging with and positioning the drawstring with respect to the drawstring engaging nger on the knotter barrel.

12. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular, rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said finger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, means engaging with the end of the drawstring and resiliently supporting the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging linger, said means including a. springloaded arm positioned above the end of the knotter barrel to receive the end of the drawstring thereon. a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doffer 1ocated on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doffer being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

13. In a mechanism for tying a knot in the drawstring of a container such as a bag, the combination of a tubular rotatable knotter barrel, a drawstring engaging finger carried by the knotter barrel at one end thereof and extending rearwardly along the side of the knotter barrel, said nger engaging with a drawstring at a point intermediate the ends thereof upon rotation of the barrel, resilient means engaging with one end of the drawstring and supporting the drawstring in position for engagement with the drawstring engaging nger, said resilient means including a spring-loaded arm positioned above the end of the knotter barrel to receive the end of the drawstring thereon, a rock shaft supporting said spring-loaded arm in drawstring engaging position, means operable by the knotter barrel upon completion of one revolution thereof for releasing the rock shaft and the arm from said position, a drawstring engaging hook reciprocably supported within the knotter barrel, said hook being reciprocable between a position within the barrel and a drawstring engaging position outside of the barrel and a reciprocable doffer located on the outside of the knotter barrel, said doier being reciprocable between a point spaced inwardly from the end of the barrel and the end thereof.

EDWARD E. WEST.

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